The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Given the disgraceful booing at Hong Kong football matches, we can’t wait any longer for a national anthem law

Tony Kwok says it will take too long for the legislature to debate and pass a national anthem law, and the National People’s Congress should step in. In the meantime, a blacklist should be drawn up of offenders who shame Hong Kong

Reading Time:3 minutes

Why you can trust SCMP

Hong Kong supporters make their feelings known during the international friendly against Laos at Mong Kok Stadium on October 5. Photo: David Wong

Tony Kwok

Published: 11:02am, 15 Oct 2017Updated: 6:37pm, 15 Oct 2017

Since the June 2015 World Cup qualifying match when Hong Kong played host to Bhutan, there have been 14 matches in a row where a small group of fans have jeered the national anthem before kick-off.

As a result, the Hong Kong Football Association has been fined twice by Fifa for failing to control crowd behaviour.

Despite the punishment, this disgraceful act was repeated on October 5, during Hong Kong’s friendly against Laos at Mong Kok Stadium.

After the match, and ahead of the important Asian Cup qualifier against Malaysia on October 10, the HKFA issued a stern warning that the punishment may well be to have to play international matches behind closed doors.

We will not skip national anthem, says Hong Kong soccer chief as patience wears out with boo boys

However, such warnings fell on deaf ears; according to media reports, a group of youngsters in the East Stand not only booed the national anthem, but some also turned their backs, while others raised a large banner calling for Hong Kong independence.

Hong Kong Football Association chairman Brian Leung Hung-tak has appealed for an end to the anthem protests. Photo: Sam Tsang

Their actions were clearly well organised and rehearsed, but there will be grave ramifications, for two reasons.